Note 6 - Impairments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block]

6. Impairments:

Management assesses on a continuous basis whether there are any indicators, including property operating performance and general market conditions, that the value of the Company’s assets (including any related amortizable intangible assets or liabilities) may be impaired. To the extent impairment has occurred, the carrying value of the asset would be adjusted to an amount to reflect the estimated fair value of the asset.

The Company’s efforts to market certain assets and management’s assessment as to the likelihood and timing of such potential transactions and/or the property hold period caused the Company to recognize impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 as follows (in millions):

	2013			2012			2011
Impairment of property carrying values * (1)(2)(5)(6)	$	76.7		$	7.6		$	3.1
Investments in other real estate investments* (3)(7)(8)		2.9			2.7			3.3
Marketable securities and other investments* (4)		10.7			-			1.6
Investments in real estate joint ventures* (9)		1.1			-			5.1
Total Impairment charges included in operating expenses		91.4			10.3			13.1
Impairment of property carrying values included in discontinued operations **		98.8			49.3			19.7
Total gross impairment charges		190.2			59.6			32.8
Noncontrolling interests		(10.6	)		(0.4	)		0.7
Income tax benefit		(22.4	)		(10.6	)		(4.5	)
Total net impairment charges	$	157.2		$	48.6		$	29.0

* See Footnote 15 for additional disclosure on fair value.

**See Footnotes 4 & 5 above for additional disclosure.

(1) During 2013, the Company was in advanced negotiations to sell several operating properties within its Mexico portfolio. Based upon the allocation of the estimated selling prices, the Company determined that the estimated fair values of certain of the properties were below their respective current carrying value. As such, the Company recorded impairment charges of $58.2 million relating to these assets. This amount is subject to change based upon finalization of contract terms, closing costs, additional cash amounts received as earn outs and fluctuations in the Mexican Peso exchange rate (see Footnote 22).

(2) During 2013, the Company recorded $18.5 million, before an income tax benefit of $6.4 million and noncontrolling interests of $1.0 million, in impairment charges primarily related to two land parcels and four operating properties based upon purchase prices or purchase price offers.

(3) Based upon a review of the debt maturity status and the likelihood of foreclosure of the underlying property within one of the Company’s preferred equity investments, the Company believes it will not recover its investment and as such recorded a full impairment of $2.6 million, before an income tax benefit of $1.1 million, on its investment during 2013.

(4) During 2013, the Company reviewed the underlying cause of the decline in value of a cost method investment, as well as the severity and the duration of the decline and determined that the decline was other-than-temporary. Impairment charges were recognized based upon the calculation of an estimated fair value of $4.7 million using a discounted cash flow model.

(5) During 2012, the Company recognized an aggregate impairment charge of $7.6 million, before income tax benefit of $2.9 million, relating to its investment in four land parcels. The estimated aggregate fair value of these properties was based upon purchase price offers.

(6) During 2011, the Company recognized an aggregate impairment charge of $3.1 million, before income tax benefit of $1.1 million, relating to a portion of an operating property and four land parcels. The estimated aggregate fair value of these properties was based upon purchase price offers.

(7) Based upon a review of the debt maturity status and the likelihood of foreclosure of the underlying property within one of the Company’s preferred equity net leased investment, the Company believed it would not recover its investment and as such recorded a full impairment of $2.7 million on its investment during 2012.

(8) During 2011, two properties within two of the Company’s preferred equity investments were in default of their respective mortgages and received foreclosure notices from the respective mortgage lenders. As such, the Company recognized full impairment charges on both of the investments aggregating $2.2 million.

(9) During 2011, the Company exited its investment in a redevelopment joint venture property in Harlem, NY.  As a result, the Company recognized an-other-than-temporary impairment charge of approximately $3.1 million representing the Company’s entire investment balance. Additionally, during 2011, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of $2.0 million, before income tax benefit, against the carrying value of an investment in which the Company held a 13.4% noncontrolling ownership interest. The Company determined the fair value of its investment based on the estimated sales price of the property in the joint venture.

In addition to the impairment charges above, the Company recognized pretax impairment charges during 2013, 2012 and 2011 of $29.5 million, $11.1 million, and $14.1 million, respectively, relating to certain properties held by various unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company holds noncontrolling interests. These impairment charges are included in Equity in income of joint ventures, net in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income (see Footnote 7). 

The Company will continue to assess the value of its assets on an on-going basis. Based on these assessments, the Company may determine that one or more of its assets may be impaired due to a decline in value and would therefore write-down its cost basis accordingly.